ARTIST 6: LIEKO SHIGA

"Wedding Veil" 2007 from Canary

"Remember That" 2007 from Canary

"Garden 2" 2005 from Lily

"Irana" 2004 from Damien Court

A professor in college once told me that art's sole purpose should be to elicit emotion. That simple statement was the greatest thing I learned in my 6 years (yes 6 years and I am not a doctor) of higher education.
Lieko Shiga's work does exactly that it provokes an emotional response in the viewer whether it be positive or negative her work makes the viewer think and feel "something".

"Her photographs are mysterious, intimate and emotional. For her series Lilly she photographed the people living in her block in East London. She covered an outside wall completely with a black cloth and photographed the people in front of it."

Quote by Pieter Wisse http://www.500photographers.blogspot.com/


http://www.liekoshiga.com/ 
Great Interview with Lieko from Tokyoartbeat.com 
http://chngyaohong.com/blog/japan/lieko-shiga/

ARTIST 5: JENNY HOLZER

Berlin, 2001

Bregenz, 2004

New York, 2005

San Diego, 2007

Washington D.C, 2007

Conceptual art is often so far-fetched and personal to the producing artist that the public struggles to perceive the underlining meaning. In 1977 Jenny Holzer pushed past the boundary producing short statements using standard text these statements were labeled "Truism's". Printed on shirts, hats and posters these works were later displayed on a large scale using neon/LED signs and Xenon projection. Jenny Holzer displays her work minus a signature or any identifying mark so that the work remains anonymous in an effort to not "Cloud" the purpose of the text. When viewing her work remember art can be whatever you want it to be.
 
http://www.jennyholzer.com/
http://www.pbs.org/art21/artists/holzer/
http://www.designboom.com/contemporary/holzer.html

ARTIST 4: NECK FACE

The "Art World" is a pretentious place where you will often find artists spewing forth nonsense so that their work may serve a higher purpose and ultimately be sold to an individual with more money than taste. Then there is Neck Face whose work looks as though it was produced by a satanic preschooler. Neck Face is best known for his "Devilish Street Art" with a humorous twist but in recent years has transcended past the streets on to the gallery walls. Neck Face has stayed true to his style and technique, his work serving the primary purpose of mass appeal and disgust. Neck Face makes art for the "Wal-Mart Audience"; enjoy his work and leave the glass of wine and beret behind.

Quote from Neck Face:

Interview: What do you think you're bringing to the "Art World"?

Neck Face: Witches and hairy things.

http://www.fecalface.com/SF/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=332&Itemid=92
http://www.robotswillkill.com/graffiti/showgraff.php?artist_id=2819

ARTIST 3: JAMES NACHTWEY

Women of the An-Nadzir Commune, 2009

Rwanda, 1994. Survivor of Hutu Death Camp

Sudan, 1993. Famine victim at feeding center

 

James Nachtwey Canon EOS the Shot

James Nachtwey is an American photojournalist and war photographer. First and foremost he is an artist possessing an "eye" that millions of photographers only can dream of. Nachtwey's photos resonate with the viewer leaving an everlasting impression in the viewers' psyche. James Nachtwey documents life while often simultaneously documenting death an artistic feat that truly makes him a great.

Quote by James Nachtwey... 

“I have been a witness, and these pictures are my testimony. The events I have recorded should not be forgotten and must not be repeated.”

http://www.jamesnachtwey.com/
http://www.viiphoto.com/feature.html
http://www.burnmagazine.org/essays/2010/01/james-nachtwey-struggle-to-live/

ARTIST 2: MARC QUINN

Buck in Ecstasy

Moment of Clarity

Self 2001 (Artist Blood, Plexiglas, Stainless Steel, and Commercial Refrigeration)

 Click Here to See A Video: A Frozen Head Made of Blood Goes On Display
 
http://www.marcquinn.com/
http://www.whitecube.com/artists/quinn/

Most Artists will claim they put themselves into their work British artist Marc Quinn literally does this. In 1991 and again in 2001 Quinn used 8 pints ( the amount the human body holds) of his blood to create a frozen sculpture of his head. Only in his forties Quinn continues to create and exhibit "Discussion-Generating" artwork at prolific rate. With no signs of slowing down who knows how Quinn will "shock" us next.

ARTIST 1: JEAN-MICHEL BASQUIAT

Jeffery Wright Portraying Basquiat in his studio

Hollywood Africans

In Italian

Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol

Originally known as the street artist SAMO Basquiat truly became an overnight success in his early twenties. Fame and fortune had a price as Basquait died at the age of 27 living up to his mantra "Die young, leave a beautiful corpse." While his career was short lived Basquiat left a timeless imprint on art and pop-culture. Enjoy his work and keep an open mind.

http://basquiat.com/
http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/exhibitions/basquiat/